(DAILY MAIL) Chinese to repair Independence, Maramba stadiums

Chinese to repair Independence, Maramba stadiums
By ROBINSON KUNDA

GOVERNMENT has awarded a Chinese construction company, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (AFECC), a contract to rehabilitate Independence and Maramba Stadiums in Lusaka and Livingstone respectively. AFECC will construct the ultra modern stadium in Ndola.

Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development Kenneth Chipungu, announced the development during the official welcome of the eight AFECC engineers at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.

Chipungu said his ministry had embarked on a vigorous campaign to construct and rehabilitate sports infrastructure in the country, hence the awarding of the contracts to the Chinese company.

He said government awarded AFECC the contract to rehabilitate the two stadiums because it is competent, efficient and its costings are also reasonable.

“We have made progress in this regard and the National Procurement Authority has given us authority to single source Anhui International Construction company for the rehabilitation of both the Lusaka Independence Stadium and the Maramba Stadium in Livingstone,” Chipungu said.

The minister said the Ministry of Works and Supply would supervise the rehabilitation of the two stadiums.

On the Ndola Stadium, Chipungu said the dream to have an ultra modern stadium in Zambia was unfolding well.
He said AFECC was a reputable company with a track record of excellence in construction of ultra modern stadiums and sports complexes in Africa and world over.

“As such I have no doubt that the Ndola stadium will be a masterpiece of modern architecture that will enhance Ndola City’s beauty and host various local and international sports events,” Chipungu said.

He said once completed, the three stadiums would attract foreign teams that would qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to come and set their training bases in Zambia.

Chipungu said government would ensure it meets its obligations as indicated in the contract.

He said there was need to have sports stadiums that conform to international standards especially in Livingstone, the tourist capital and Lusaka, the capital city adding that the three projects should finish before 2010.

And AFECC vice president Hua Cheng Long said his company was credited for doing quality works world over.

Hua said the construction of the Ndola stadium would offer his company an opportunity to work in Zambia for the first time.

He said he satisfied with the cooperation his company was getting from the Zambian government.

“We will try our level best to ensure the projects finish in time. We have been to Independence Stadium several times and we will be making a trip to Livingstone to assess Maramba Stadium,” Hua said.